Handlamp-switch



G. D. GALLAGHER.

HANDLAMP SWITCH l APPLICATION FILED IuNE s, |920.

I8 I-- I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlE.

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA., ASSIGNOR TO WINCI-IESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

HANnLAMP-swrrcn.

Applica-ation led June 8,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. GALLAGHER, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing at Washington,.District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Handlamp-Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX; ct description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to battery hand lamps of the kind in which a battery and a small incandescent lamp are mounted in a casing, together with suitable switch mechanism for controlling the How of current from the battery through the lamp.v

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein one embodiment of the present invention is described and illustrated.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a fragmental, .sectional elevation of a complete hand lamp of the fiat or vest pocket type; Fig. 2 is a fragmental, longitudinal section showing the Switch mechanism closed; Fig. 3 is a similar view with the switch mechanism in safety position; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch mechanism; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows the slots cut in the side of the metal case; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the housing by which the push-button contact is moved along the double key hole slot of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detail of the leaf spring andthe push-button mounted thereon.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hand lamp comprises a case 1, which may be of metal and iiat as shown.- At the front end of this case, and threaded thereto, isa lamp 2,*the innen terminal 3 of which makes contact with the longer terminal 4 of a battery 5 positioned within the case. This battery has a short lexposed terminal 6 at which the battery circuit through the lamp is con-` trolled. One of the rounded'edges of case 1 is cut or punched to form an opening the edges 7 and' 8 of which serve as guideways for''otherelements. A bifurcated tongue or finger 9 is left at the frontend of this opening and is bent to the shape shown in Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1920. serial No. 387,279.

`In this bifurcated finger there isprovided a double key hole slot (Fig. 7) consisting of a large opening 11, a narrower opening 12, a large, round opening 13, and a narrow front opening 14. e v

Mounted to slide along case 1 is a thumbactuated housing 1 5 having integral tangs 16 land 17 for engagement with, guideways 7 and 8, respectively, and havin a round opening near its'front end in whic is housed a. push-button 18. Mounted within housing 15, and secured thereto at one end, as by a rivet 19, is a leaf spring 20 (Fig. 9) fiuted to Jform a shoulder 2.1 near rivet 19 and adaptednto serve as a battery positioning finger. This insures proper distance between the opposed switch contacts and keeps the battery from rattling around in the case.

Patented Nov.15,1921.

The luting of spring 20 adds to its resilience and materially assists in proper positioning of the spring even after long use.V

At the front or free end of leaf spring 20 is mounted a push-button contact element comprising push-button 18 and a central stud 22 which may be integral with the button, and the lower reduced end of which passes through spring 20 and is riveted over to secure the button to the spring. The stud has a cylindrical enlargement 23 seated on the top face of spring 20, and having a diameter slightly less than the openings 11 and 13 (Fig. 7 of finger 9. Above this enlargement 23 the push-button stud is of a diameter to pass freely through openings 12 and 14 of the double key hole slot (Fig. 7).

The push button contact, as above described, and as illustrated in Fig. 1, is mov- -able by thumb pressure on button 18 into With the switch mechanism positioned as in Fig. 1, the enlargement 23 of the pushbutton contact rests in opening 13 (Fig. 7) of the keyhole slot, and the resiliency o f spring 20 holds the' button inits outer posltlon. In this position `the push-button contact is not in engagement with the exposed vertent lighting of thelamp, as jwhen the" lamp is being shipped'or carriedabout, is,

battery terminal 6, but by thumb pressure on button 18can be pushed into engagement with that terminal, as for momentary flashing of the lamp in signaling. If continued burning of the lamp is desired, the operator first depresses the push-button to move enlargement 23 out of locking engagement with opening 13 of the key hole slot, and' then, with his thumb, pushes forward on housing l5 to slide it forward along the.

case, thereby moving the stud into the nar; rowed front end portion v14: of the'double key hole slot and at the same time bringing the stud -into continuing engagement with tact 6;

But in addition to being able to asli the lamp as in signaling, and to burn the lam continuouslywithout continuing the thum pressure on the button, the present device has the, advantage that the switch mechanismcan be put in such condition that inadin large measure, avoided. Tomove the switch mechanism to safety position', it is necessary to depress thumb button 18, thereby disengaging enlargement 23. from opening 13 of the slot, and to pull the housing ybackward along the case until the enlargement snaps intoopening 11 of the slot. Battery terminal 6 is so positioned with respect to the key` hole slot that when enlargement 23 is in opening 11 it will be below the exposedportion of terminal 6, and will beopposit'e the wrapping or jacketing of the dry battery: Under these conditions, as illustrated in Fig. 3, thumb pressure on button 18 will'not close the circuit,'because stud 21' will not touch the exposed portion of battery terminal l6, but will merely move over into engagement with -the paper or paste# board jacket of the vdry battery. Furthermore, forward slidingmovement of housing 15 is prevented because of the locking engagement between enlargement 23 and openv ing 11. Therefore, to change the switch mechanism from this safety position lto one in which the lamp can be lighted, it is necessary, first, to depress the push-button, and then to push forward on housing 15 until enlar ement 23 snaps again into opening 13. o complex a manipulation is not likely to happenA accidentally, andthe lamp can readily be shipped or carried about with its battery in position and without danger of accidentally burning the lamp tono useful'- purpose.

Although the embodiment-illustrated in the drawing and above described is of the -at or. vest pocket type, itl will be understood that I contemplatesuch changes in arrangement and details as vare reasonably within the scopel of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a battery' hand lamp, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide thereon, a leaf spring carried by said housing and having a battery-positioning shoulder, and va push-button -contact car- `vried by said spring and slidingly movable with said'spring and housing, substantially as described.

2. In a battery hand lamp, the combina said guideways, a leaf' spring carried`l` by said housing and having a battery-positioning shoulder, and a 5push-button contact 85.--v tion of av metal case having guideways v therein, a housing mounted to slide along mounted on said spring and movable along 'said case with said spring and housing, sub- A stantiallyas described.

3. In'a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery case having a key hole slot, a housing mounted to slide alon said ease, a fluted leaf spring carried by said housing,

and a push-button contact attached to said spring and movable along said key holeslot, v100 substantially as described.

.4. In a battery hand lamp, the combina-v tion of a battery case having a key -hole slot, a battery therein having an exposed terminal, a housing mounted to slide along said case, a luted leaf spring carried by said housing, and a push-button contact fastened i to said spring and movable-in said slot into and out of enga ement with said battery tery minal, substantially as described. ,l

5. Ina battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery ease having a key hole slot,

va battery therein having an exposed'ter- .minal, a housing mounted to slide along said case,fa `leaf spring carried by said housing -and a push-button Contact mounted on said vspring and having a shoulder forv continuouslyengaging the front end of said key hole slot when continuing connection I with said battery terminal is desired.

6. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery case/ h aving a double key hole'slot with the narrow portions of the Vslot positioned forwardly ofthe larger opeiil ings, a battery within said,case having'an exposed terminal, a housing mounted'to slide alongsaid case, a leaf spring connected at one end to said housing, a push-button conand having an enlargement engageable with Aeither enlargedportion of tha-double key tact mounted on the other end of said spring hole slotte prevent sliding movement of said housing except when said push-button contact is depressed.

7. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery case having a double key hole slot with the narrowed portions of the slot forward of the larger openings a battery therein having an exposed terminal, a housing mounted to slide along saidcase, a leaf spring connected at one end to said housing, a push-button Contact fastened to o the other end of said spring, said pushbutton Contact having an enlargement preventing sliding movement of said housing, except when said push-button is depresse 15 said enlargement' being ladapted to underlie the front end of said slot when continuing contact with the exposed battery vtermiv nal is desired. l

In testimony whereof aiix my signature. 20

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER. 

